Cushion



Aug. 17, 1937. E. R. PENNINGTON CUSHION Filed Oct. 3, 1955 Fig,

' INVENTOR.

w" BNN/S R. PE/v/V//VGTON fri/lg BY ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to a cushion.

The object of my inventionl is to provide a cushion for the pit of a bowling alley, the cushion being resilient through the medium of strips of rubber and woven fabric alternately positioned and vulcanized together forming strips with which to build the cushion.

A further object of my invention is to construct the strips in such a way that the rubber portion thereof will be guarded from contact with the balls or pins employed in the game when forced thereon, by which means the said balls and pins are not soiled or marked by the rubber which heretofore has been the case.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a cushion that is easily cleansed, uncumbersome to handle, simple to construct and having great efficiency with respect to sound deadening and wearing quality.

These and other objects will hereinafter be more fully explained, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication in which like characters will apply to like parts in the different views.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the cushion, fragmentarily.

Fig. 2 is an edge View.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View through 30 one of the strips taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged edge View of the separator.

Fig. 5 is a side view of Fig. 4.

The invention as disclosed consists of a plurality of laminated strips l, placed on edge and 35 secured together at intervals and being spaced apart by separators 2, the said separators are laminated similar to the strips and being apertured centrally as at 3, also each strip at intervals longitudinally and through which a wire 4 40 will engage as binding means for the said strips and separators firmly together as a lining or cushion for the pit of a bowling alley.

The lamination consists of a plurality of woven fabric sheets 5, the said sheets being canvas,

45 preferably made from cotton, other fiber however, may be employed as the warp and chain.

Between each sheet of fabric is placed an elastic band of rubber 6, the said fabric and bands are attached by Vulcanization; the outer edges 50 of each member being so placed that the edges of the fabric will extend outward from the edges of the elastic bands suflicient to lap thereacross as a shield or guard against contact with the edges of the said elastic bands, by which means 55 in the game of bowling, the balls and pins when forced upon the cushion will fail to contact with the rubber as the fabric edges are free to lap upon the edges of the elastic bands as above stated and without such arrangement the balls and pins employed in the game become marked by the rubber which is unsightly and a detriment to cleanliness, and the elastic feature of the strips will cause the same to rebound to their normal position after being compressed or forced out of alignment.

The elasticity of a cushion thus arranged will function as a mufiler with great efficiency, furthermore the constituent parts of the cushion is lpractically impervious to saturation, therefore it is easily cleansed when required.

While I have shown a specific weave of the strips in the construction of the cushion I do not wish to be restricted to such alone, as rectangular openings between the strips may be arranged and the cylindrical separators shown may be varied by the adoption of a polygonal or rectangular form, and furthermore the fabrication of the structure, with respect to the strips and separators may be vulcanized together in wide sheets and cut in narrow strips substantially as shown in the drawing.

I have experienced in the process of cutting the strips that the edges of the woven fabric will not cut smoothly and even with the elastic portion, therefore the result is equally as well from a practical standpoint for the purpose above described, and the plies herein referred to may be varied with respect to number as the case may require and such other modifications may be employed as lie Within the scope of the appended claim.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz- In a cushion of the class described, elastic laminated strips, rectangular in cross section, each strip consisting of a plurality of rubber sheets and sheets of fibrous woven fabric placed between the rubber sheets, there being one on the outside of each of the outer rubber strips, the edges of the fabric extending past the edges of the rubber, and adapted toL lap thereover, all of said rubber and fabric strips being vulcanized securely together, and cylindrical elements of like material and construction as spacing means for the strips, and means to secure said elements and strips together, forming a cushion, for the purpose specified.

ENNIS R. PENNINGTON. 

